Self-cooling package for beverages

ABSTRACT

A self-cooling package for beverages, comprises cooling means internal to said package and means of connection to pumping means external to said package, the internal cooling means being formed by a cavity filled with a refrigerant liquid that evaporates under the effect of a depression.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a beverage package used to coolits contents. The invention can be applied especially to the cooling ofbeverages contained in a can or bottle type closed package.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to enable theconsumption of a beverage at ideal temperature at all times and in allplaces.

[0004] There are mainly two physical methods for cooling the contents ofa package or container. Firstly, there is cooling by the expansion of agas according to the classic laws of thermodynamics which linktemperature to pressure and, secondly, cooling by evaporation andadsorption, the principle of which lies in evaporating a liquid underthe effect of depression sustained by adsorption of the vapors of saidliquid.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Thus, for example the first method has been implemented in theFrench patent application No. FR 97 04531 which proposes the cooling ofa canned beverage by means of an expansion of compressed gas. Acartridge of gas to be expanded is placed in a metal heat sink that isitself placed inside the can.

[0007] This approach has several drawbacks. Firstly, the gas cartridgetakes up about half the volume of the beverage to be cooled. This isdictated by the quantity of gas needed to cool the beverage.Furthermore, the cost of a cartridge of compressed gas is high. Thisleads to a very sharp increase in the price of the can.

[0008] Much research has also been devoted in the prior art to the othermethod of cooling by evaporation and adsorption. Many devices have beenproposed, associating an evaporator device, containing a liquid to beevaporated, with a container containing an adsorbent.

[0009] Thus, for example, a method of this kind has been implemented inautonomous devices such as portable refrigerators. The U.S. Pat. No.4,126,016, of which an illustration is given in FIG. 1, proposes adisposable two-part cooling system. An evaporating container 107,consisting of a chamber containing the liquid to be evaporated, iswithin an enclosure 100 and another chamber containing the adsorbent 108is outside, the two elements 107 and 108 being connected by abayonet-type connection device 109.

[0010] This connection device 109 is however complicated to make,especially when a good vacuum is needed (the difficulty being related tothe existence of moving parts in rotation and translation with a rubberseal). A device of this kind is not economical.

[0011] The application of the method of cooling by evaporation andadsorption has also been proposed for beverage packages.

[0012] Thus, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,599, of which an illustration isgiven in FIG. 2, proposes to make a heat exchanger 16 (evaporatordevice) totally contained within the container 10 to be cooled(explicitly described as a can). At the same time, this patent stressesthe reversibility or two-way character of the intercommunication betweenthe heat exchanger 16 and the adsorbent contained in a container 22located beneath the can 10. This device has at least four valves: two tocreate the vacuum 19 and then fill 20 the exchanger 16, one to createthe vacuum in the container 22 of the adsorbent and one to activate thecooling 27. A structure gives rigidity to the vacuum-tight chambers 16and 22, and a tube 26 connects the different elements together. Thiscomplex construction certainly does not make for a cost price compatiblewith a disposable package such as a can, and the reversibility of theintercommunication contributes to this complexity.

[0013] Other patents, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,191, supplemented by theU.S. Pat. No. 5,048,301 by the same inventors, illustrated in FIG. 3,propose the cooling of a beverage 15 contained in a package 10 by meansof a module 11 placed in the package 10 (presented as a can).

[0014] This module 11 consists of several chambers. A first chamber 12contains the liquid (18) to be evaporated (water) and a second chamber14, internal to the first chamber 12, contains desiccant 25 and “heatsink” 24. Activation means, which bring the water 18 and the desiccants25 into communication, act as a pump for the water vapor. This reactionof adsorption which cools the first chamber 12 nevertheless causes asubstantial release of heat in the second chamber 14. This heat may betrapped by particular materials 24 (by phase change or endothermalreaction). The second U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,301, in this respect, proposesto add a heat insulation feature (of the DEWAR type) by means of avacuum chamber 13 surrounding the chamber 14 that contains the adsorbent25.

[0015] None of the prior art inventions has seen any significantcommercial application to date. This is because of technical reasons ofperformance and economic reasons of manufacturing cost. The presentinvention proposes solutions to these problems.

[0016] Indeed, certain technical and physical imperatives have neverbeen seriously taken into account in the prior art, and the constraintsof manufacturing costs are high, given the fact that the applicationconcerns disposable devices.

[0017] The complexity of the devices proposed in the prior art is anevident obstacle to their development. The two-way intercommunicationvalves of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,599, although not described in detail,are complex and expensive to manufacture. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,191and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,301 suffer from the same economicconstraints and also underscore the difficulty of removing the heatreleased in the package by the adsorbent, and the complex means thathave to be used for this purpose.

[0018] Moreover, these devices cannot be used for to cool beveragesrapidly. Indeed, two points essential to this kind of rapid cooling havenot been sufficiently taken into account. The first point is theeffectiveness of the heat exchange between the evaporator and thebeverage, and the second point is the speed with which the vapors of therefrigerant liquid are pumped into the evaporator.

[0019] The pumping speed depends of course on the effectiveness on theadsorbent, and also on the geometrical characteristics of the means formaking the evaporator communicate with the container of the adsorbent,and on the residual pressure of the non-adsorbable gases, namely gasesother than the vapor of the refrigerant liquid.

[0020] Now, none of the prior art devices proposes any specialarrangements to give an efficient vapor pumping rate. The differentconfigurations proposed and the types of connection valves used suggestdifficulties related to the geometry. But even more than thesegeometrical characteristics, it is the residual pressure of thenon-adsorbable, and hence non-pumped, gases that limits the process.

[0021] The goal of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks ofthe prior art.

[0022] The present invention proposes a self-cooling package forbeverages whose working is based on the principle of the evaporation ofa refrigerant liquid at reduced pressure.

[0023] To this end, the invention proposes a self-cooling package forbeverages formed by two distinct elements.

[0024] The beverage package according to the invention contains coolingmeans consisting of an internal evaporator (a cavity) and means toconnect these cooling means to pumping means external to the package.These pumping means cause and sustain the evaporation of a refrigerantliquid in the internal evaporator.

[0025] The internal cooling means and the external pumping means formthe two distinct elements of the device according to the invention. Theyare connected by connection means but are independent in their designand manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0026] An object of the present invention more particularly is aself-cooling package for beverages, comprising cooling means internal tosaid package and means of connection to pumping means external to saidpackage, the internal cooling means being constituted by a cavitycontaining a refrigerant liquid that evaporates under the effect of adepression.

[0027] According to one characteristic, the ratio of the volume to thesurface area of the internal cavity is three to seven times smaller thanthe ratio of the volume to the surface area of the package.

[0028] According to one characteristic, the internal cavity has a volumesmaller than or equal to 2 cl for a package with a volume of 33 cl.

[0029] According to another characteristic, the internal cavity has acontact surface greater than or equal to 50 cm² for a package with avolume of 33 cl.

[0030] According to one particular feature of the invention, theinternal cavity is sealed to the walls of the package.

[0031] According to one mode of implementation, the refrigerant liquidis water.

[0032] According to another mode of implementation, the refrigerantliquid is water containing an additive that lowers its temperature ofsolidification.

[0033] According to one characteristic, the refrigerant liquid partiallyfills the internal cavity.

[0034] According to one characteristic, the partial pressure, in theinternal cavity, of gases other than the vapor of the refrigerantliquid, before connection to the external pumping means, is lower thanor equal to 3 mb.

[0035] According to one characteristic, the internal walls of the cavityare partially covered with a hydrophilic porous material.

[0036] According to one characteristic, the connection means comprise acone-like structure closing the internal cavity and comprising adelidding punch zone, the external pumping means being provided withdelidding means that get encased in said cone-like structure.

[0037] According to one characteristic, the internal cavity has ageometry such that the refrigerant liquid cannot flow through theconnection means whatever the position in which the package is held.

[0038] According to a first embodiment, the cavity is a tubularstructure made up of ribs mutually held together by plates and connectedto the means of connection.

[0039] According to one particular feature, the cavity comprises a tubeconnecting the ribs to the connection means, said tube and the bottom ofthe package having crimped complementary conical shapes.

[0040] According to an alternative mode of implementation, the tubeemerges at the center of the internal cavity, the ribs convergingtowards this central point.

[0041] According to a second embodiment, the internal cavity constitutesa double bottom of the package.

[0042] According to one particular feature, the internal cavity has aconical shape with a star section.

[0043] According to an alternative mode of implementation, the internalcavity comprises a helical structure.

[0044] According to an alternative mode of implementation, the cone-likestructure of the connection means enclosing the cavity penetrates theinterior of said cavity so that the delidding punch zone is locatedtowards the center of gravity of the cavity.

[0045] According to a first application, the package is a steel can.

[0046] According to a second application, the package is an aluminiumcan.

[0047] According to one characteristic, the internal cavity is made ofthe same material as the pack.

[0048] According to another application, the package is a bottle made ofresistant plastic (PET plastic).

[0049] According to another application, the package is a glass bottle.

[0050] According to a first mode of implementation, the self-coolingpackage according to the invention is connected to external pumpingmeans constituted by an evacuated cartridge containing a materialcapable of adsorbing the refrigerant liquid.

[0051] According to a second mode of implementation, the self-coolingpackage is connected to external pumping means consisting of amechanical vacuum pump.

[0052] According to a third mode of implementation, the self-coolingpackage is connected to external pumping means consisting of cryogenicpumping means.

[0053] The package according to the invention has performancecharacteristics and a flexibility far higher than those proposed in theprior art.

[0054] Moreover, it can be manufactured at very low cost, withoutdictating any major modification in the production lines of traditionalpackage systems.

[0055] The designing of two distinct elements optimizes theindustrial-scale production of the device according to the invention.The internal cavity must be added to the container, but it occupies anegligible volume and can advantageously be made of the same material.The shape of the cavity is furthermore designed to permit maximum heatexchange for a minimum occupied volume.

[0056] The external pumping means are developed and manufacturedseparately. Moreover, different pumping means can be considereddepending on the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Various characteristics and advantages of the present inventionshall appear in the following description given as an non-restrictiveillustration, made with reference to the appended drawings of which:

[0058]FIG. 1, already described, is a drawing of a prior artself-cooling portable device,

[0059]FIG. 2, already described, is a drawing of a self-cooling can ofbeverage according to an alternative of the prior art;

[0060]FIG. 3, already described, is a drawing of a self-cooling can ofbeverage according to another alternative of the prior art;

[0061]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along AA of a beveragepackage according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0062]FIGS. 5a and 5 b are detailed views of the connection means ofFIG. 4;

[0063]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top view along BB of FIG. 4;

[0064]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-section view along CC of analternative embodiment of the first mode according to the invention;

[0065]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of a beverage packageaccording to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0066]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic top view along BB of FIG. 8;

[0067]FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of the cavity according to thesecond embodiment of the invention.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The following description relates to a beverage package of thecan type, made of steel or aluminium depending on the manufacturers andprovided with cooling means based on the principle of the evaporation ofa refrigerant liquid at reduced pressure. The invention may pertain,however, in the same way, to a beverage package of the glass bottle orresistant plastic (for example PET plastic) type.

[0069] A first embodiment shall be described with reference on FIGS. 4to 7.

[0070] A beverage package, consisting of a can 10 with a standardizedshape and volume, comprises a heat exchanger constituted by an intervalcavity 2 containing a liquid L.

[0071] This cavity 2 has specific geometrical characteristics such thatthe ratio of its volume to its surface area is three to seven timessmaller than the volume-to-surface ratio of the package 10. Thus, forexample, for a can 10 with a standard volume of 33 cl, the volume of thecavity 2 is smaller than or equal to 2 cl and its contact surface areais greater than or equal to 50 cm².

[0072] In order to facilitate its manufacture and recycling, the cavity2 is advantageously made of the same material as the can 10, namelysteel or aluminium. For a bottle type package, the cavity 2 willpreferably be made of a thermally conductive material such as aluminiumfor example.

[0073] The refrigerant liquid L contained in the internal cavity 2 maybe water, or preferably water containing an additive that lowers itstemperature of solidification, such as NaCl for example. With such anadditive, it is possible to increase the beverage cooling speed bylowering the temperature of the cavity 2 (the heat exchanger) to below0° C. when the refrigerant liquid L is water.

[0074] According to an advantageous characteristic, the liquid L onlypartially fills the cavity 2, for example half of it.

[0075] According to another particular characteristic of the invention,the internal walls of the cavity 2 are advantageously covered with ahydrophilic, porous material like cellulose or a polymer for example.

[0076] According to one particular characteristic of the invention, theself-cooling beverage package does not comprise any filling or pumpingvalve. The cavity 2, containing the liquid L to be evaporated undervacuum, is sealed to the package 10 by the cold crimping of two conesinto each other or by bonding or any other technique.

[0077] According to another characteristic of the invention, theinternal cavity 2 contains only the refrigerant liquid L as well as thevapors of said liquid L. In other words, the liquid L has been degassedprior to being introduced into the cavity 2. This degassing can beobtained, in particular, by boiling at atmospheric pressure followed byboiling with reduction of pressure to a few millibars.

[0078] In other words, the partial pressure, in the internal cavity 2,of the gases other than the vapor of the refrigerant liquid L, beforethe cavity 2 is connected to the external pumping means, is lower thanor equal to 3 mb. This characteristic gives good speed of evaporationand at the same time prevents the evaporation reaction from beinglimited by any non-adsorbable gases that might be contained in thecavity 2.

[0079] The geometry of the cavity 2 is important in relation to thecooling speed to be obtained because it conditions the effectiveness ofthe heat exchange between the cavity 2 and beverage to be cooled.

[0080] According to the first embodiment, referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, thegeometry of the cavity 2 favors a large heat-exchange surface area withthe beverage to be cooled for a low volume occupied in the package 10.The ratio of the volume to the surface area of the cavity 2 is then 5 to7 times the corresponding ratio in the package 10 of beverage.

[0081] According to this embodiment, the cavity 2 is a tubularstructure, mainly made up of pumping tubes 3, which form ribs heldtogether by plates 31. The ribs 3 have a ¾ cylinder shape and end in acommon tube 4. They contain the refrigerant liquid L to be evaporated.

[0082] The internal cavity 2 may advantageously have the shape of an arcof a circle matching the shape of the can 10. It is attached to thewalls of the can 10 by fastening means 6 consisting of clamps that arewelded or bonded for example.

[0083]FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the commontube 4 emerges in the center C of the cavity 2. This arrangementprevents the flow of the refrigerant liquid L through the connectionmeans 5 and thus procures the evaporation reaction, whatever theposition in which the can 10 is held during its connection to theexternal pumping means.

[0084] The means of connection 5, which connect the tube 4 of theinternal cavity 2 with the external pumping means, are illustrated indetail in FIGS. 5a and 5 b.

[0085] These connection means 5 associate the tube 4 and the bottom ofthe package 10 by crimped, complementary conical shapes.

[0086] Thus, for example, in the configuration of FIG. 5a, the tube 4has a tip 52 in the shape of a cone set in an inverted hump 51 of thebottom of the package 10. It is the tube 4 of the cavity 2 that closesthe bottom of the package 10 when it is assembled. The cavity 2 issealed under vacuum before being fixed at the bottom of the package 10.

[0087] Conversely, in the configuration of FIG. 5b, the tube 4 has a tip54 with an inverted hump set on a cone 53 of the bottom of the package10. In this configuration, it is the cone 53 of the bottom of thepackage 10 that closes the cavity 2 when it is assembled. To ensure agood vacuum in the cavity 2, this assembly can be done in air-freeconditions under pressure of saturating vapor from the refrigerantliquid L.

[0088] These two configurations are given by way of illustrativeexamples, but it is possible to consider other combinations relating tothe direction of the hump features and the nature of the closing of thecavity and of the bottom of the package.

[0089] In particular, the cavity 2 can be closed by means of a conicalstopper 55 (FIG. 8) for example, positioned after the cavity 2 has beenjoined to the package 10. This stopper may, if necessary, form part ofthe external pumping means if these means are assembled jointly with thepackage during its manufacture.

[0090] Moreover, it may be planned to connect the tube 4 of the cavity 2to the lid of the package 10 rather than to its bottom.

[0091] In all the configurations, the structure that closes the cavity 2must necessarily comprise a delidding punch zone, i.e. a thinning of thestructure, to allow an opening to be cut out in the internal cavity 2using delidding means associated with the external pumping means.

[0092] The delidding means may have different forms, tubular or pointedfor example, and may be activated by different means, manual pressurefor example. Their function is to press on the delidding recess to cutout an opening in the internal cavity 2 and to thus activate thereaction of evaporation and the implementation of the process of coolingthe beverage contained in the package 10.

[0093] A second embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0094] This second embodiment again has the essential features of thefirst embodiment. Only the shape of the cavity 2 varies. The geometry ofthe cavity 2 indeed favors the setting up of high convection currents inthe beverage so that it is rapidly cooled.

[0095] According to this second embodiment, the internal cavity 2advantageously is a double bottom of the can 10. It has, for example, aconical shape in vertical section (FIG. 8) and a star structure inhorizontal section (FIG. 9). The cavity 2 is directly fixed to thebottom of the package 10, by bonding for example.

[0096] The connection means 5 associated with this second embodiment aresimilar to those described with reference to the first embodiment, asalso are the associated delidding means.

[0097] When the cooling process is put into action, the package 10 isturned over (with bottom upwards). This specific feature can beindicated in the instructions of the self-cooling package according tothe invention. The conical shape of the cavity 2 then concentrates thedownward convection currents to the center of the can 10 and thusincreases the beverage cooling speed.

[0098] The star-shaped structure of the cavity 2 furthermore increasesits surface area of heat exchange with the beverage to be cooled. Inthis embodiment, the ratio of the volume to the surface area of thecavity 2 is then 3 to 5 times the corresponding ratio for the beveragepackage 10.

[0099] According to an alternative embodiment, the cavity 2 has ahelical structure (FIG. 10) that prompts a rotational motion, known as avortex, in the convection current. This contributes to the accelerationof this current. This particular structure can advantageously beobtained by a helical shaping of the star structure of FIG. 9. It canalso be obtained, for example, by adding fins to the structure of thecavity 2.

[0100] It can be planned to make a helical structure of this kindfixedly joined to the lid of the package rather than to its bottom. Insuch a case, the can 10 will have to be kept upright during the cooling,and the means of connection 5 to the external pumping means must then beintegrated into the lid.

[0101] According to one alternative embodiment, the conical structure 55of the connection means 5 closing the cavity 2 penetrates into saidcavity 2 so that the delidding punch zone is located towards the centerof gravity of the cavity 2. It is thus possible to prevent a flow of therefrigerant liquid L through the connection means 5, when the coolingprocess is put into operation, whatever the position in which thepackage 10 is held.

[0102] The cooling of the beverage 15 contained in the can 10 isobtained by the evaporation of the liquid L contained in the internalcavity 2. This evaporation is caused and sustained by a depression inthe internal cavity 2.

[0103] To this end, external pumping means are planned in associationwith the self-cooling package according to the invention, these externalmeans being capable of activating and sustaining the reaction ofevaporation of the refrigerant liquid L in the cavity 2.

[0104] Depending on the applications, these external pumping means canbe constituted by a mechanical vacuum pump, or cryogenic pumping meanssuch as cold traps which condense the water vapor, or again an evacuatedcartridge containing reagents (desiccants) capable of activating theadsorption of the liquid L.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-cooling package for beverages, comprisingcooling means internal to said package and means of connection topumping means external to said package, the internal cooling means beingformed by a cavity containing a refrigerant liquid that evaporates underthe effect of a depression.
 2. A self-cooling package for beveragesaccording to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume to the surfacearea of the internal cavity is three to seven times smaller than theratio of the volume to the surface area of the package.
 3. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to one of the claims 1 to2, wherein the internal cavity has a volume smaller than or equal to 2cl for a package with a volume of 33 cl.
 4. A self-cooling package forbeverages according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the internalcavity has a contact surface greater than or equal to 50 cm² for apackage with a volume of 33 cl.
 5. A self-cooling package for beveragesaccording to any of the preceding claims, wherein the internal cavity issealed to the walls of the package.
 6. A self-cooling package forbeverages according to any of the preceding claims, wherein therefrigerant liquid is water.
 7. A self-cooling package for beveragesaccording to any of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerant liquidis water containing an additive that lowers its temperature ofsolidification.
 8. A self-cooling package for beverages according to anyof the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerant liquid partially fillsthe internal cavity.
 9. A self-cooling package for beverages accordingto any of the preceding claims, wherein the partial pressure, in theinternal cavity, of gases other than the vapor of the refrigerantliquid, before connection to the external pumping means, is lower thanor equal to 3 mb.
 10. A self-cooling package for beverages according toany of the preceding claims, wherein the internal walls of the cavityare partially covered with a hydrophilic porous material.
 11. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to any of the precedingclaims, wherein the connection means comprise a cone-like structureclosing the internal cavity and comprising a delidding punch zone, theexternal pumping means being provided with delidding means that getencased in said cone-like structure.
 12. A self-cooling package forbeverages according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the internalcavity has a geometry such that the refrigerant liquid cannot flowthrough the connection means whatever the position in which the packageis held.
 13. A self-cooling package for beverages according to any ofthe claims 1 to 12, wherein the cavity is a tubular structure made up ofribs mutually held together by plates and connected to the means ofconnection.
 14. A self-cooling package for beverages according to claim13, wherein the cavity comprises a tube connecting the ribs to theconnection means, said tube and the bottom of the package having crimpedcomplementary conical shapes.
 15. A self-cooling package for beveragesaccording to claim 14, wherein the tube emerges at the center of theinternal cavity, the ribs converging towards this central point.
 16. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to any of the claims 1 to12, wherein the internal cavity constitutes a double bottom of thepackage.
 17. A self-cooling package for beverages according to claim 16,wherein the internal cavity has a conical shape with a star section. 18.A self-cooling package for beverages according to one of the claims 16to 17, wherein the internal cavity comprises a helical structure.
 19. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to one of the claims 16 to18, wherein the cone-like structure of the connection means enclosingthe cavity penetrates the interior of said cavity so that the deliddingpunch zone is located towards the center of gravity of the cavity.
 20. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to any of the claims 1 to19, wherein the package is a steel can.
 21. A self-cooling package forbeverages according to any of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the package isan aluminium can.
 22. A self-cooling package for beverages according tothe claims 20 and 21, wherein the internal cavity is made of the samematerial as the package.
 23. A self-cooling package for beveragesaccording to any of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the package is a bottlemade of resistant plastic (PET plastic).
 24. A self-cooling package forbeverages according to any of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the package isa glass bottle.
 25. A self-cooling package for beverages according toany of the claims 1 to 24, wherein the self-cooling package according tothe invention is connected to external pumping means constituted by anair-tight cartridge containing a material capable of adsorbing therefrigerant liquid.
 26. A self-cooling package for beverages accordingto any of the claims 1 to 24, wherein the package is connected toexternal pumping means consisting of a mechanical vacuum pump.
 27. Aself-cooling package for beverages according to any of the claims 1 to24, wherein the package is connected to external pumping meansconsisting of cryogenic pumping means.